Democratic governor candidate Chris Kennedy on Monday tried to clarify his much-criticized remark that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner should be “applauded” for speaking truth to power, saying the governor deserves credit for taking on Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan and rival J.B. Pritzker.

Kennedy told reporters that he has been an “absolute critic” of the GOP governor he wants to succeed and called Rauner “reprehensible” and “inhuman” in his treatment of state social programs. The Democrat did not stop there, however.

“And yet,” Kennedy said of what he views as Rauner’s policy shortcomings, “he’s taking on this pay-to-play culture that needs to be criticized.”

Kennedy’s comments came at a downtown news conference to provide details behind a core theme of his campaign — a property-tax assessment system that he said benefits wealthy commercial property owners over homeowners in poorer neighborhoods.

Kennedy, a Kenilworth businessman and heir of the iconic Massachusetts political family, has struggled to find a lane in the March 20 Democratic governor primary. Candidate J.B. Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, has the support of much of the Democratic establishment. Democratic state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston has courted the party’s more liberal elements.

On Friday, Kennedy walked out of Tribune Tower following a candidate forum with the newspaper’s editorial board and was asked by reporters if he was helped by Rauner’s extensive attack ads that feature FBI recordings of Pritzker speaking to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in November 2008, a month before the former governor was arrested on corruption charges.

“I think Bruce Rauner is trying to do what he thinks is best for the state of Illinois,” Kennedy said Friday. “And we may disagree on what that is, but his willingness to speak truth to power, to take on the powers that have been strangling our economy for decades in this state is something that I think he should be applauded for.”

Those comments prompted quick criticism from Pritzker and other Democrats. Kennedy had a chance to clean up the political mess Monday, but continued to try to have it both ways in describing Rauner.

“I think that Bruce Rauner was critical of Mike Madigan and the pay-to-play culture that’s present in our state. And when you see J.B. Pritzker, when you listen to that tape of him talking to Blagojevich and this notion that big money is coming in to … buy an outcome maybe for him to become treasurer of the state or some other appointed position, I think that’s the culture that we need to get rid of in Illinois,” Kennedy said.

The Rauner ads feature portions of government recordings the Tribune published on May 31 in which Pritzker and Blagojevich discuss various scenarios for filling the U.S. Senate vacancy of then-President-elect Barack Obama. Pritzker makes known an interest in becoming state treasurer if an opening is created.

Asked Monday if he had any regret for praising Rauner, Kennedy said, “I mean I’m running against Bruce Rauner. I campaigned against him all over the state while he was running. I’ve been an absolute critic of his behavior.”

Kennedy also credited Rauner with “a good first step” in issuing an executive order last week to ban state lawmakers from arguing cases before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. Critics, however, question whether the order could survive a legal challenge because the tax board is supposed to be independent of the executive branch.

As for Kennedy’s property tax platform, the candidate repeated his call for a ban on elected officials serving as tax appeals lawyers, a type of law practiced by some legislators, aldermen and Madigan, the longtime House speaker and state Democratic chairman. Kennedy also restated his proposal to prevent property-tax appeals law firms from donating to elected assessors.

In addition, Kennedy said a state task force should be created to review sales prices and mortgage information and file complaints when properties are unfairly underassessed. He also proposed state licensing and standards for assessors and a public report on the accuracy of assessments by assessors across the state. Many of the issues Kennedy is seeking to address were raised in the Tribune’s investigation “The Tax Divide.”

Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios’ office has said income generated by commercial properties is the primary basis of value to assess them, and contended Kennedy’s proposal to use sales prices as the sole base for assessments is unconstitutional. Berrios spokesman Tom Shaer said Kennedy “demonstrates a woeful lack of knowledge about the assessment process.”

Kennedy, who has called for Berrios’ resignation, mocked the assessor, who also is Cook County Democratic chairman, calling the explanation “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah” and “double speak.”